Steal This Idea: Road Trip!

We talk a lot about doing things to get customers into your garden center. But at least one clever retailer out there has figured out a Revolutionary way to create loyal customers by getting them out of the garden center and onto a bus.

Tish Llaneza, owner of Countryside Gardens in Hampton, Va., (one of the 2008 Revolutionary 100), will be loading nearly 100 people on two chartered buses on February 22 and driving them to the 19th Annual Maymont Flower and Garden Show and the Richmond Home Show. It’s the second year Countryside Gardens has hosted the trip, which not only provides a fun experience for its good customers, but also provides an opportunity to both enhance the relationship they have with the business and call attention to some new products the garden center will be offering in the upcoming season.

Tish explains some of the benefits Countryside Gardens sees by hosting the trip:

“I started The Flower Power Fun Bus last year. I was worried that no one would book a seat but it was an idea that took hold immediately and we had to book a second bus. We will have two buses again this year, which is all we can handle since we provide continental breakfast to 98 people in the store at once. The benefit to Countryside Gardens is exposure, sales and we want customers to know that something fun is always going on at Countryside Gardens even in freezing February. Keep that buzz going!

“We also serve as a ticket agent for the show, so those who want to drive to the show come in for tickets and that is an opportunity for additional sales. We promote it as a stocking stuffer in December or a great Valentines gift. For new guests or those that don’t have a computer, we have a flyer at the counter that keeps changing with upcoming events and every customer gets one.

“Every guest on the bus receives a goodie bag with information from plant vendors and any free products we pick up at the trade shows. Many of the guests are avid gardeners and it is a great way for vendors to show off their plants and products and create buzz. Guests read it during the trip between fun & games. We do a gardening Q & A and a segment on ‘What’s New for 2008’ to get them excited about coming back to Countryside Gardens. We keep a customer call list on each bus where they can sign up to be called when the new intro or their favorite plant arrives. New this year will be a gardening video segment highlighting new products.”

SHS Griffin has announced the release of its annual seed and plant catalog for the 2015-16 season. Available in both print and digital formats, the 2016 catalog features more than 400 new and improved varieties from the industry’s leading breeders. The 262-page print catalog covers the company’s full seed portfolio — more than 3,400 cultivars of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, herbs and vegetables. From the SHS Griffin vegetative offering, the complete spring-annual assortment from Syngenta Flowers is featured, alongside new introductions and top sellers from nine top suppliers such as Proven Winners, Dümmen Orange and Suntory. More than 120 vegetative perennials from Syngenta Flowers are also included, including several SHS Griffin exclusives. The SHS Griffin 2016 digital catalog includes all of the product information and photography from the print edition, and more. For the first time, SHS Griffin has added a range of digital-only bonus content: detailed crop culture, quick […]

One retailer asked this question: Is there a gross margin percentage that is considered a good goal for garden centers and their various product lines? Check out financial consultant Steve Bailey's advice.

SHS Griffin has announced the release of its annual seed and plant catalog for the 2015-16 season. Available in both print and digital formats, the 2016 catalog features more than 400 new and improved varieties from the industry’s leading breeders. The 262-page print catalog covers the company’s full seed portfolio — more than 3,400 cultivars of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, herbs and vegetables. From the SHS Griffin vegetative offering, the complete spring-annual assortment from Syngenta Flowers is featured, alongside new introductions and top sellers from nine top suppliers such as Proven Winners, Dümmen Orange and Suntory. More than 120 vegetative perennials from Syngenta Flowers are also included, including several SHS Griffin exclusives. The SHS Griffin 2016 digital catalog includes all of the product information and photography from the print edition, and more. For the first time, SHS Griffin has added a range of digital-only bonus content: detailed crop culture, quick […]

One retailer asked this question: Is there a gross margin percentage that is considered a good goal for garden centers and their various product lines? Check out financial consultant Steve Bailey's advice.

Now is the time to start planning for which annuals will be on display at your garden center in 2016. Check out this slideshow of breeders’ picks for their favorite new sun-loving annuals for the garden retail market in the coming year.

IGC Show organizers have launched new free apps for IGC East and IGC Chicago, available for download in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, that offer information on conference sessions and special events.

Now is the time to start planning for which annuals will be on display at your garden center in 2016. Check out this slideshow of breeders’ picks for their favorite new sun and shade varieties for the garden retail market in the coming year.

A report from the National Retail Federation indicates that while companies are becoming more compliant with PCI standards, it may not be enough to protect them from fraud. Note: Thanks for Epicor for sponsoring this EMV story.

Farwest, which takes place Aug. 27-29 in Portland, Ore., is the show to discover new nursery and retail-focused products, equipment and services, find new, popular plant varieties, and network with thousands of top industry professionals.